Smooth Cold Coffee

Featured in: Drinks to Keep You Cool and Hydrated

This quick cold coffee method uses coarsely ground beans combined with water and steeped overnight. Gives a smoother, low-acid concentrate served icy or hot.

A woman in a kitchen with a stove and oven.
Updated on Mon, 28 Apr 2025 13:43:20 GMT
A jar pouring iced coffee into a glass, with coffee beans scattered on a table. Pin it
A jar pouring iced coffee into a glass, with coffee beans scattered on a table. | cookingkitchn.com

Need a super simple at-home cold brew that's way better than the stuff you pay for? Here's my go-to method for silky, zero-bitterness chilled coffee! Making it yourself costs way less than buying it out, and this simple approach gives you amazing results without fail. Seriously, after you make cold brew this way, you'll wonder why you ever bought it!

Time To Whip Up Coffee

This no-fuss method needs just four basic steps. Begin with roughly ground coffee beans for your DIY batch - it totally transforms the result. Soak it overnight with cold water, filter it out when you wake up, and boom - you've got perfect cold brew concentrate ready to drink however you want!

Benefits Of DIY Brewing

Creating your own cold brew at home totally works out better! My straightforward approach gives you coffee that's naturally mellow and smooth, never harsh. You can tweak how strong your homemade batch turns out exactly to your taste, and one mix lasts the entire week. And let's face it, this simple method puts so much cash back in your pocket compared to daily coffee runs!

Different Ways To Drink It

Standard Over Ice
Drop your DIY concentrate on ice cubes, mix with water or milk - awesome every single time!
Heat It Through
This straightforward approach works surprisingly well heated up too - just warm it slowly.
Personal Touches
Dress up your DIY cold brew with different milks, flavored syrups, or spice blends.

Insider Tricks

For flawless DIY cold brew anytime: Always pick coarse coffee grounds for this straightforward approach - fine ones make everything taste bitter. Quality water makes tastier coffee, and never steep past 15 hours. My favorite hack for your DIY batch? Stick some in ice cube trays to chill your drinks without making them watery!

A glass jar is being filled with dark, brewed coffee. Pin it
A glass jar is being filled with dark, brewed coffee. | cookingkitchn.com

Creative Variations

This straightforward approach leaves tons of room for playing around! Try throwing some vanilla into your DIY cold brew, or put a cinnamon stick in while it steeps. I sometimes make my home batch with coconut water instead of tap water - it's incredible! This simple method even works perfectly as a starting point for mochas by stirring in chocolate syrup.

Smart Uses For Grounds

After straining your DIY cold brew, hang onto those grounds! They work great in my garden compost pile - plants go crazy for them. You can throw together a quick body scrub, or use dried grounds to soak up smells. Your home batch keeps on giving even after you've finished drinking all the coffee!

Frequently Asked Questions

→ Why is coarse grinding better?

It helps you avoid bitter taste and makes straining simpler.

→ Does steeping time make a difference?

About 12 hours works best. Shorter and it’s too weak, longer makes it bitter.

→ Can I use regular pre-ground coffee?

You can, but ask for a coarse grind. Standard grinds aren’t ideal.

→ How long will it last?

It stays fresh up to 7 days if kept in a sealed container in the fridge.

→ Why go for cold coffee over hot?

It gives a milder, smoother flavor with less acidity, perfect for iced drinks.

Cold Brew Coffee

Create delicious homemade cold coffee with just water and coffee beans. Leave it steeping overnight for best results.

Prep Time
10 Minutes
Cook Time
~
Total Time
10 Minutes
By: Sophia

Category: Refreshing Drinks

Difficulty: Easy

Cuisine: American

Yield: 3 Servings (1)

Dietary: Low-Carb, Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free

Ingredients

01 4 cups (907g) water.
02 1 cup (113g) whole coffee beans.

Instructions

Step 01

Crush the beans into a gritty texture, like coarse cornmeal.

Step 02

Add the water to a container filled with grounds.

Step 03

Gently combine everything so the grounds soak properly.

Step 04

Cover up and let it sit for about 12 hours at room temp or in the fridge.

Step 05

Set up a strainer and line it with a layer of cheesecloth.

Step 06

Pour the brew through the lined strainer carefully.

Step 07

Pour your strained coffee into a storage container.

Step 08

Add water or milk until it tastes just the way you like it.

Step 09

Chill it with ice or give it a quick warm-up if you want it hot.

Notes

  1. You can use a French press.
  2. Adjust the strength as needed.
  3. Lasts up to a week.
  4. Smoother with less acid than when brewed hot.

Tools You'll Need

  • Grinder for coffee.
  • A big container.
  • Some cheesecloth.
  • A strainer.

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: ~
  • Total Fat: ~
  • Total Carbohydrate: ~
  • Protein: ~